Michelle Alexander New Jim Crow Laws Analysis
opinion Essay
883 words
Imagine one day you find your self in a situation where all fingers are pointing at you. You’ve been accused, and even worst, there is proof that you’ve committed a felony. And no matter how much you try to convince people that you are innocent, that you haven’t done anything wrong, no one believes you. Now that you have this mental picture, hold it. Unfortunately this image is not made up. It has happened, and its still happening. Maybe not to you, but it’s happening to individuals who are seen as weak. Who are seen as inferior. People that are being blamed and harassed for things such as illegal possession of drugs in the United States. People who are classified by their colored skin. It isn't a coincidence that today the highest percentage of people who are behind bars are either black or brown colored skinned and the majority is convicted with a drug felony. In America’s society, the use of drugs and illegal substances has been an issue throughout …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the highest percentage of people behind bars are either black or brown colored skinned and the majority is convicted with a drug felony.
- Explains that the civil rights act of 1968 brought protection to all, and brought peace to african americans during that time.
- Analyzes how whites get away with illegal drug dealing, while black-brown-skinned people are being accused unfairly and arrested with drug felonies.
- Opines that society has made us think that by locking people up, justice is being made, and that our society is more divided than anything.
- Opines that the same treatment should be applied to all people, not just african americans when it comes to raising drug suspicions. we need to speak the truth that hasn't been spoken yet.
Writer and activist, Michelle Alexander, in her inspiring speech on “The New Jim Crow Laws” talks about the War on Drugs and the politics behind it. She points out how “white use are more likely to engage illegal drug dealing than black use”. Unfortunately, that not how society would see it. And it is infuriating that whites get away with it so easily, while black-brown skinned people, many of them being innocent, are being accused unfairly and arrested with drug felonies. I say unfairly because it isn't fair to assume anything based on the way someone looks. Tim Wise, who is also an activist and very well known speaker, in his “Colorblind Society Speech” talks about the time he got to interact with police officers and asked them about their intuitions when it came to searching someone for drugs. Even they admitted that they relied it on their physical appearances, mainly race. As well as the type of car that the suspect drives and who drives
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- analytical
- opinion
- Racial Racism In Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crowanalytical essayIn Michelle Alexander’s article The New Jim Crow, she addresses the importance of educating people on the harsh reality of racial caste in America. As a civil rights lawyer and with previous work experience at the ACLU in northern California, Alexander knows the importance of getting relevant information to the public in order to inform them of important information. In The New Jim Crow Alexander uses a specific wring style through rhetorical devices to convey her message that the US justice system is turning into the modern day laws of Jim Crow, outlawing African Americans and taking away their basic natural rights while creating a new racial caste system and the possibility of the system to change.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how michelle alexander's article, the new jim crow, addresses the importance of educating people on the harsh reality of the racial caste in america.
- Analyzes how alexander utilizes diction to grab people's attention and emphasize the united front that america needs to have in order to protect struggling and impoverished african americans.
- Analyzes how alexander uses imagery to portray racial caste and how the laws of jim crow are returning to america.
- Analyzes the use of allusions in the piece to enhance the topic of racial tension throughout america. alexander mentions "orwellian doublespeak" in 1984.
- Analyzes how alexander's opinion about racial caste in america establishes her tone through sharing her believes and opinions about what she is talking about.
- Analyzes how uses rhetorical devices to show her audience the new jim crow laws and how they relate to a new caste system in america.
1031 wordsRead More - Mass Incarceration In Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crowanalytical essayMichelle Alexander in her book "The New Jim Crow" argues that Mass Incarceration is similar to Jim Crow; Alexander believes that caste systems such as Jim Crow and slavery are similar to the existing system of mass incarceration. In addition, Alexander accuses the U.S. criminal justice system, implying their laws undividedly target African Americans through the War on Drugs and racial limitation. In comparing mass incarceration with Jim Crow, Alexander points to compelling parallels regarding political disenfranchisement, legalized discrimination, and symbolic production of a race. Alexander, moreover, effectively offers a rebuttal to the counterargument that the New Jim Crow does not carry the same level of racial hostility as the Old Jim
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how michelle alexander's book, "the new jim crow," argues that mass incarceration is similar to the existing system of mass
- Analyzes how michelle alexander compares mass incarceration with jim crow, implying that u.s. criminal justice system has created laws targeted to african americans.
- Analyzes how alexander points to a parallel between jim crow and mass incarceration regarding political disenfranchisement.
- Analyzes how alexander's argument about legalized discrimination is based on a parallel between mass incarceration and jim crow.
724 wordsRead More - Brent Staples (1999) stated in the article that we only see drug busts in the ghetto and never in the suburbs. This leads to more suspicions on African-Americans, which then leads to more arrests. The author found only 5 arrests are made for every 100 white addicts, but 20 arrests for every 100 black addicts, while the utmost conservative estimates suggest that white intravenous drug users outnumber black users by at least 5 to 1. Cracking down on the ghettos and arresting African-Americans will only reinforce the stereotype that blacks are drug addicts. This will then lead to more arrests every time they are caught with any type of drugs, while a white person could be given a warning for the same charges. This will only make African-Americans more vigilant and scared to go out in public with peace of mind without having to look over their shoulders and for them to operate out without having to worry about getting arras for any stop and search. I only know this as I’ve seen this before. I was at Venice beach with a couple of my friends one afternoon, and an officer stopped two black males on the sidewalk. They happened to have weed on them; the officer arrested them and took them in. A few minutes later, a white male was walking and holding hands with his girlfriend, another officer stopped them and they happen to have weed on them too, I watched as the officer only gave them a ticket. This proves that African-Americans have a higher chance of getting arrested for the same drug charges compare to white. This will only put African-Americans at much higher risk of getting arrested and put in jail. Only the negative information is being shared on the media never the
In this essay, the author
- Opines that eradicating/containing racism is the best idealistic step to take in order to make the future generation of the minority group live without worrying about daily negativities from the society.
- Explains that media has a great deal of power in the world today. large media corporations are making ridiculous amounts of profit from people's ignorance.
- Agrees with ardis c. martin's findings that media influences racial identity development of african-american youth.
- Analyzes how robert m. entman and andrew rojecki (2000) did a study about the way blacks and whites are portrayed in the media.
- Opines that cracking down on the ghettos and arresting african-americans will reinforce the stereotype that blacks are drug addicts.
- Analyzes johnette atkinson mccain's study of 8 african-american high school students who are participating in an early college academy program.
- Opines that the media never gives any positive sight when it comes to african americans. rauch states that we can never eradicate racism in our society.
1592 wordsRead More - Sexism In Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crowanalytical essay“[T]he cage may or may not be specifically developed for the purpose of trapping the bird, yet it still operates (together with the other wires) to restrict its freedom” (Alexander, 184). This metaphor used by Michelle Alexander gives a good basis on the idea of intersectionality within feminist theory. What Alexander has stressed hugely in ‘The New Jim Crow’ is the idea of racial hierarchy, which bell hooks also stresses in her chapter Men: Comrades in Struggle in her book ‘Feminist Theory: from margin to center.’ She discusses the hierarchy of men and women while also discussing race. She claims that the history of the feminist movement has not wanted to “acknowledge that bourgeois white women, though often victimized by sexism, have more
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how michelle alexander's metaphor gives a good basis on the idea of intersectionality within feminist theory.
- Analyzes how the disproportionate rate of incarceration of black men to white men creates a racial hierarchy, alienating and dehumanizing people of color.
- Analyzes how alexander discusses the three stages of black men being forced into the cage, where they are locked into a subordinate position.
- Opines that the racial caste system disproportionately throws black men in jail, separates them from the white community. separatist ideas for a movement in feminism will not work.
- Analyzes how alexander provides us with the history and creation of mass incarceration within ‘the new jim crow’; created by the white supremist government.
714 wordsRead More - The War On Drugs in the USAopinion essayThe War On Drugs in the USA One of the most explosive issues in the current American political
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the war on drugs is one of the most explosive issues in the current american political climate.
- Explains that the "war on drugs" is a campaign to stamp out illegal drug use because it pinpoints the need to crack down on drug dealers, arrest users, and pursue an expensive law enforcement agenda.
- Analyzes how the war on drugs has unintentionally encouraged the prolongation of economic discrimination, especially along racial lines.
- Opines that the war on drugs is taking a toll on low-income, minority families, adding to the obstacles between them and economic success.
- Opines that if we use the money spent on fighting the illegal drug trade to educate these poor youths, they would gain economic and social success.
- Explains that families deal drugs trying to make a better life for themselves, but instead end up being addicted and committing crimes to feed their habit.
- Argues that the racial disproportionate nature of the war on drugs is not just horrible on the black americans, it contradicts faith in the principles of justice and equal protection.
- Explains that minorities are overrepresented among drug traffickers. blacks make up 60% of arrests for drugs and weapons. the anti-racial profiling crowds say that if the police find more contraband, it is because they are looking harder for it.
458 wordsRead More - The Slave Mentality in The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexanderanalytical essayThe New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander is a very poignant piece. Throughout the work Alexander makes it a point to draw parallels between the current judicial systems implementation of declarations coming out of the executive branch and the lack action from the legislative branch to correct the overbroad execution that has ultimately lead to a disproportionate amount of Blacks currently incarcerated. The book was interesting to say the least. I feel as if Alexander did a proper job of laying the historical foundation down for the reader and describing that from the earliest time in American history the Black people were invited into the land merely as a compromise and because the Blacks seemed to be the most economic choice for the furtherance of their motives to develop the country. Alexander did not merely stop at the idea of just telling the reader the Blacks were a better economic move during the foundation of the country instead she went into depth about why other racial groups, such as the Native Americans and the poor Eastern European Whites would not be as easy to assert slavery power over.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how michelle alexander draws parallels between the current judicial system implementation of declarations coming out of the executive branch and the lack of action from the legislative branch to correct the overbroad execution that has ultimately led to disproportionate blacks currently incarcerated.
- Analyzes how the slave mentality is a reoccurring theme throughout the book. the presumption that the blacks are still the weakest race resonates with white americans but it also suggests that this can be changed.
- Opines that alexander could not have made such huge success with marketing this book if she had simply used this avenue to expose the issues within the black communities that keep the black race rooted in a position of inferiority without offering some hope.
- Opines that it would be nice to think that active steps, proposed by alexander, to fight the systems that are currently in place will change the way the world looks at the black race.
638 wordsRead More - Drug Nationanalytical essayPeople have been using drugs for many years and for many reasons. Drugs were designed to treat medical conditions, mental illnesses, and for daily ailments. The misuse of drugs began when people realized they could use them to feel better or do things better. The drug of choice has changed throughout time from alcohol in the early 1900’s to marijuana and hallucinogens such as LSD in the 60’s and 70’s. Cocaine and pills such as Oxycodone became popular in the 80’s and 90’s which then made way to home produced drugs such as crack and meth in the early 2000’s. Currently the misuse of prescription drugs along with heroin has become popular as people look for easier and less expensive ways to get their high. Marijuana has made a comeback with less stigma and laws that allow people to use it for medicinal uses and even in some states recreational use. Whatever the popular drug has been for the time, polls show that Americans in various decades have thought as drug abuse as a national concern. Research also shows that drug use in America has begun increasing significantly for the past several years. There are many different opinions on why people are increasingly turning to drugs and using them illegally. According to Web MD, “More young adults aged 18 to 25 are using illicit drugs, up from 19.6% in 2008 to 21.5% in 2010” (WebMD.com). The drug use rate has been directly affected by multiple factors. These factors include age of users, the media, family influences and stress. A variety of perspectives on this topic result in a question of what causes today’s society to turn to drugs.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the misuse of drugs began when people realized they could use them to feel better or do things better.
- Explains that people are starting to use drugs at a younger age because of peer pressure and social groups that influence them to make negative choices.
- Analyzes how the media portrays drug use in movies, television, and music, while portraying the negative consequences of drugs.
- Explains how family influence influences drug use, and how it affects children's future choices. siblings and other close family members are also influences.
- Opines that people have started turning to drugs to escape their real world problems. the national institute of drug abuse's article, addiction science: from molecules to managed care, elaborates on the many reasons people take drugs.
- Concludes that drug abuse is a complicated issue that cannot be attributed to one factor. it is being fought through national campaigns, prevention programs in schools, and treatment programs.
- Opines that illegal drug use is on the rise in the u.s.
- Describes robison, jennifer, "decades of drug use: data from the '60s and'70s."
- Analyzes the use of data from the 1960s and '70s. n.p., 2 july 2002.
1147 wordsRead More - I Support the Decriminalization of All Drugsopinion essayWhen societies finally become comfortable with reality, they begin to abandon the murderous laws that impede their growth. Currently, the social stigma and legislated morality regarding the use of illicit drugs yield perhaps the most destructive effects on American society. Drug laws have led to a removal of non-violent citizens from society- either directly by incarceration or indirectly by death - that is genocidal in quantity and essence.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that when societies become comfortable with reality, they begin to abandon murderous laws that impede their growth. the social stigma and legislated morality regarding the use of illicit drugs yield perhaps the most destructive effects on american society.
- Opines that the "drug war" in the united states has a prison population larger than russia and china's and an inestimable death toll that rivals the number of american casualties from any given war, disease or catastrophe.
- Opines that u.s. drug policy is irrational, which leaves us no option but to assume that anti-drug sentiment fulfills psychological needs, specifically those that operate independent of rational thought.
- Argues that the government's efforts to stigmatize drugs and drug users have failed to have any effect. they forget that smoking marijuana or opium was preferred by the intelligentsia.
- Argues that drug use does not deteriorate the imaginary "moral fabric" of american culture.
- Explains that when someone dies due to drug overdose, we blame the drug and ask for stricter laws. however, one does not die from the narcotic effects of heroin, but from its impurity.
- Concludes that a tightening of drug laws correlates with an increase in violent crime.
- Analyzes how the drug war has produced abstract negative effects that are difficult to measure, such as the destruction of family life.
- Opines that the most plausible explanation of the current drug policy lies within the irrational requirements of psyche, needs that are both individual and social
- Opines that they would prefer a society where people are free to do anything that does not infringe upon the rights of others, in which socially constructed moralities do not hinder individual freedom.
1134 wordsRead More - Essay On Drugs And Prostitutionopinion essayThe use of drugs alters physical and psychological functions and has been used by various cultures for medical, religious and social purposes. However, drug usage in America began when physician unknowingly started using the addictive sap from opium as morphine for medical purposes (Alder, et al., 2013, p. 342). Other drugs were also used and implemented into household products until the addictive nature of these chemical became a problem and there was a public outcry for the state and federal governments to restrict the uses of these products. While the laws helped reduce the addiction problem by regulating the use and sale of these products, it also led to drugs being sold and distributed on the black-market (Alder, et al., 2013, p. 343).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that prostitution is a result of sexual abuse, poor socioeconomics, or predators who seek out young children to manipulate and sell them as sex slaves
- Explains that drug use in america began when physician unknowingly started using the addictive sap from opium as morphine for medical purposes.
- Explains that 22.6 million people ages 12 and older are regular drug users in american. violence and the spread of diseases are associated with drug usage, which leads to the lack of internal control and criminal behavior.
- Opines that marijuana is already becoming legal in many states across the nation, so that states can regulate its usage and put the tax revenue towards drug treatment programs for those addicted to the harsher drugs.
- Opines that corruption within government relations with drug cartels has led to scandal at an international, local government, business, and support for terrorist groups.
- Explains that prostitution is a misdemeanor under the law for soliciting sex. hookers are less respected and self-report to be addicted to drugs and exposed to hiv.
- Opines that child prostitution is an epidemic in all countries and is the second largest organized crime in world leading countries to take measures to stop human trafficking and child exploitation.
- Explains how advances in technology and transportation have contributed to organized crime across the globe.
- Opines that enforcement suffers because many countries lack funds, corruption, poor legal infrastructures, and cultural control and repression methods. prostitution and drugs trafficking are related to transitional activity on a global level.
- Opines that interest groups can be effective in changing perceptions and educating the people about the harmful effects of drugs and human trafficking for prostitution.
1303 wordsRead More - Legalization of All Drugsopinion essayThere is one fact society agrees on: drugs are everywhere in America. The so-called “War on drugs” has taken over the streets, back alleys, and the suburbs of America. It has caused a problem that mirrors the prohibition days of the 1920’s and early 1930’s. A
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcohol prohibition did fail and the prohibition on drugs failed miserably. modern drug-dealers have taken the place of the bootleggers of prohibition age.
- Opines that police officers face ruthless drug dealers who would rather shoot an office than spend twenty-five years in prison.
- Argues that the 21st amendment, which repealed the 18th amendment, should have legalized drugs.
- Argues that if drugs were legalized, society would have a better chance of helping people through drug addiction.
- Opines that if drugs were legal, there would have to be restrictions on them. it would diminish the damage caused by the absence of quality controls on illicit drugs and slow the spread of infectious diseases due to needle sharing.
- Concludes that americans have a difficult decision to make — there is no way to stop drug use, and there are two ways to combat the problem.
- Opines that the debate over the legalization of drugs stirs up moral and religious beliefs that are contrary to what americans should believe.
1827 wordsRead More